the.com/pavise
a portable wall for archers too smart to die standing tall
means A pavise is a large, often body-length shield, frequently propped up on the ground, that protected a soldier—especially a crossbowman—while reloading.
from The name traces back through Old French *pavais* to Italian *pavese*, an adjective meaning 'of Pavia'—the northern Italian city long associated with making these big shields. So the pavise is, quite literally, 'the Pavia thing,' a hometown brand that became the generic word for any portable wall a sensible archer could crouch behind.
- big enough
- Often tall enough to hide a kneeling crossbowman entirely
- the prop
- A foot spike planted it upright, freeing both hands
- named for
- Likely after Pavia, the Italian city that made them
- crossbow combo
- Shielded reload time for slow, devastating crossbows
- painted faces
- Often bore heraldry, saints, or intimidating designs
for instance
genoese crossbowmen — medieval mercenaries famous for using pavises as mobile shields during 14th-15th century european campaigns